UK Youth calls for more investment in youth services

UK Youth has renewed calls for increased investment in youth services following a damning new report. 

The YMCA’s newly published On The Ropes report reveals a 3 per cent funding increase on youth services year-on-year – but overall cuts of 70 per cent since 2010-11. 

The report reveals: “Youth services have been on the ropes for years, leaving young people without the support they need to stand a chance. 

“There has been a £1.1 billion real-terms reduction in local authority spending on youth services since 2010-11 leaving many young people without anywhere to go. 

“However, it doesn’t have to be this way. Investment in youth clubs and support services can help young people realise their potential. It can provide those safe spaces to have fun and trusted adults to lean on. Investing in youth services is investing in young people and the future of the UK.” 

The report found drastic underfunding has seen the number of local authority-run youth centres fall by 53 per cent in England, from 917 to 427, alongside a 35 per cent reduction in full-time equivalent youth workers employed by local authorities in England since 2012-13. 

UK Youth has urged local authorities to reverse this trend and invest in youth services, for the good of young people and their communities. 

Ndidi Okezie OBE, UK Youth Chief Executive Officer said: “While the slight increase in spending on youth services is a small step in the right direction, it is nothing compared with the reduction in spending in recent years, which has seen the number of young clubs operating in local authorities nearly halved. 

“Time and time again, young people face being disproportionately affected by the financial crisis gripping local authorities across the country. 

“We urge the Government and local authorities to invest in youth work for the benefit of young people nationwide – UK Youth’s Untapped research has shown increasing investment in youth work can actually save millions of pounds in the long-term, alongside transforming the lives of young people, whether through improving employment, health outcomes or reducing crime.” 

UK Youth is a leading charity with a vision that all young people are equipped to thrive and empowered to contribute at every stage of their lives. With an open network of more than 8,000 youth organisations and nation partners; UK Youth reaches more than four million young people across the UK and is focused on unlocking youth work as the catalyst of change that is needed now more than ever. To find out more, visit ukyouth.org 

UK Youth is involved in a range of programmes designed to help young people thrive, such as outdoor learning, physical literacy, social action and employability, including Hatch, a youth employability programme run in partnership with KFC. For more on UK Youth’s programmes, see ukyouth.org/what-we-do/programmes